When the women came to the tomb of Jesus to anoint His dead body, they were surprised by an angel who told them the glorious Good News of the Resurrection. His message was simple, the Great Commission in a nutshell. "Come and see the place where the Lord lay and then go and tell" the world what God has done – purchased eternal life for who will believe the message.
The message of the angel is for all of us. Come to Jesus personally. Spend time where He is, worshipping Him and listening to His voice. Then go out to the world and tell those you meet about the wonderful things Jesus has done in your life and what a loving Savior He is. That is the heart of the Great Commission and you don’t even have to be a preacher or stand on a street corner passing out tracts to be involved in making it happen. Just spend time alone with Jesus and then share with others the difference He has made in your life. It’s that easy and that powerful. "Come and see…then go and tell" about Jesus and the power of His resurrection.
God is at work in the Philippines because we were willing to go. Another group of students has graduated from our Bible schools and 15 new churches are being started in villages in South Cotobato, a region that is predominantly Muslim. You can help these recent graduates "go and tell" by making it possible for us to build churches for the new Believers who are coming to Christ through their efforts.
Other students who just graduated are going to plant churches among the mountain villages of Davao del Norte and Compostela Valley where the people are hearing the Good News for the first time and are renouncing their pagan deities to worship the Creator God and His Son, Jesus Christ who died for them and rose again to give eternal life to all who believe.
A team from Seattle, Washington led by Beth Lemm and her pastor has also gone to Mindanao to minister at our annual youth camp that is currently in progress (April 9-13). God is moving powerfully among the more than 400 young people who have gathered to seek His face. Pray for them that they will not only come to see the mighty works of God but also that they will go and tell others of the great things that God is doing in their lives.
While Beth and her team are ministering on Mindanao at the youth camp, we will not be sitting down on the job. God has opened the doors for us to be traveling and ministering throughout the Southwest and Northwest, speaking in churches and encouraging our Brothers and Sisters in Christ. Not only are we going and telling about the good things that God is doing but we are also helping local churches to set up Bible schools like the ones we started in Romania and the Philippines. In this way, pastors can more effectively disciple their people so they also are equipped to go and tell others about the goodness of God and reach the lost within their own communities.
A recent survey revealed that 50% of the current population in the United States has never attended church – any church – not even for Christmas and Easter! It is time to wake up and realize that we are all living on a mission field. Each one of us is called by God to "come and see" then "go and tell" our world about the good things of God. There are people living right in your neighborhood who will never attend church unless a friend invites them. We need to ask God to help us to be that friend that He can use to draw the lost and lonely unto Himself.
God is calling for volunteers to go and tell the Good News of His salvation to a hurting world and He is ready to use any willing vessels that will make themselves available. He doesn’t even require that they wait until they are "grown up". We are thrilled to share the enclosed letter with you for your prayerful consideration. Our granddaughter JoLea Gard is only 11 years old but she wants to be used by God to go to Romania to tell the orphans there about the goodness of God who has promised to be a Father to the fatherless. JoLea remembers the years we spent in Romania and the short term mission trip her parents took to Romania in 1991 when they were in Bible school. She wants to let God use her to go and tell the children of Romania about His mercy and grace. She wants to go with Teen Mania who hold the "Battle Cry" youth rallies here in the States and challenge young people to a total commitment to Jesus Christ and a biblical lifestyle of discipleship for the sake of the Kingdom.
The entire trip costs $2,762, more than JoLea’s parents can afford. So she is asking for our help. If you would like to help JoLea reach her goal of sharing the Gospel with the children of Romania this summer, you can send your gift to Church Triumphant designated for "JoLea". Will you prayerfully consider adding an extra $27 above your regular giving to help meet this need? If 100 people will do this, the need will easily be met.
Any funds received for "JoLea" over and above what is needed will be used for ministry to children in Romania through one of our other outreaches. If you wish to help, please send your gift as soon as possible so we can get it to her to send in before the deadline. Whether or not you feel led to support this outreach, do remember to pray for her and her teammates. We are so proud of her for her willingness to serve.
There are so many opportunities here at home and around the world to come and see what God is doing and then to go and tell others of His goodness and His grace. We pray that God will open your eyes to see Him at work and open your heart to be a part of His great harvest field as we are laborers together to fulfill the Great Commission in this generation. May God bless you abundantly as you share in this great work of telling the world the Good News of the eternal salvation available to all through the power of His resurrection.
Howard & Barbara Gard
We thank God for His faithfulness in answering prayer and we thank you for your faithfulness in praying with us. Please continue to join us in daily prayer for our Brothers and Sisters in Christ in the Philippines and around the world. Allow the Holy Spirit to direct you in prayer as you pray what is on His heart for each situation.
Day 1 – Pray for Beth Lemm and the team from her church as they minister at the youth camp in Tagum City. Pray that God will continue to anoint them and use them mightily during their time on Mindanao.
Day 2 – Pray that all the financial needs of the youth camp will be met so that it will not be a burden on the local churches.
Day 3 – Pray for the young people who attend the youth camp that they will become effective witnesses for Jesus Christ as they return to their home villages. Pray especially for those from non-Christian homes who come to Christ during this week that they will lead the rest of their families to Christ as well.
Day 4 – Pray for our granddaughter JoLea Gard as she tries to raise the funds she needs to go to Romania this summer to minister in the orphanages there.
Day 5 – Pray for all the young people who are trying to gather the funds for short term mission trips this summer. Pray that God will supply their needs and use them mightily for His glory.
Day 6 – Pray for all the churches here in America who are planning summer evangelistic outreaches that God will raise up the laborers and finances necessary to reach the lost within our own communities.
Day 7 – Praise God that we were able to buy a new chain saw to replace the one that was worn out building churches on Mindanao. Now we will be able to build even more churches to reach the lost and equip the Believers.
Day 8 – Pray for Howard and Barbara Gard as they travel throughout the Western states ministering in churches and encouraging the Body of Christ. Pray that God will keep them safe and supply all their needs. Pray for open doors and open hearts everywhere they go.
Day 9 – Pray for the students who recently graduated from our Bible schools on Mindanao as they go forth to plant churches in unreached areas.
Day 10 – Pray for the churches and pastors here in America who are starting Bible schools locally to equip their people to be more effective witnesses for Jesus Christ.
Day 11 – Pray for the 15 new churches that are being planted in South Cotobato. Pray that God will provide the finances to build sanctuaries for these new congregations.
Day 12 – Pray for the young people on Mindanao that God is calling to attend our Bible schools when classes begin again in June. Pray that they will be obedient to the call to prepare for full time ministry as pastors and church planters.
Day 13 – Pray for Albert and Emma Asang as they lead our Bible school and church planting ministries in the Philippines. Pray that God will supply all their needs and give them wisdom and direction in knowing His perfect will concerning students and teachers for the coming school year.
Day 14 – Praise God for His promise that the king’s (governmental leaders’) heart is in His hand and one day the leaders of all the nations will bow their knees and declare that Jesus Christ is Lord.
Day 15 – Pray for the upcoming elections in the Philippines that men and women of integrity will be elected to positions of authority at every level of government.
Day 16 – Pray for Datu Oscar Bug-ot who is running for the position of mayor in Talaingod. Pray that God’s hand of protection will be upon him and that God will give him great wisdom to be a blessing to the people of that region.
Day 17 – Pray for Pastor Renel Sabino and his congregation in Ampawid that they will be effective in reaching their area for Jesus Christ.
Day 18 – Pray for Pastor Tony Asang as he travels each month to the remote village of Magimon to bring God’s Word to Datu Laris Dagansina and his people. Datu Laris is one of the leaders among the 300 tribal chieftains who came to Christ in May, 2004, after hearing the Gospel for the first time.
Day 19 – Pray for the churches in Tubay and Tigpangahoy in Agusan del Norte that are being led by elders since their pastors moved away. Pray that God will give these elders great wisdom as they minister to His people.
Day 20 – Pray for the churches in America that are partnering with us to reach the tribal people on Mindanao. Pray that God will anoint them and make them effective in reaching their own local communities with the Gospel as well.
Day 21 – Praise God for the churches in America that are starting Bible schools to train more workers for the coming harvest in this nation.
Day 22 – Pray for Pastor Jakel and his large congregation in the village of Maligaya in northern Mindanao.
Day 23 – Pray for Pastor Ruben Salbame and his congregation in Maribulan in Sarangani Province, an area often hit by Muslim terrorists.
Day 24 – Pray for Pastor Rudy Tohay and his growing congregation in Lumuyon.
Day 25 – Pray for Pastor Ricky Carado and his congregation in Surallah, an area that is predominately Muslim.
Day 26 – Pray for Pastor Mateo Khan and the effective work that he is doing in the village of Laconon.
Day 27 – Pray for Pastor Dino Daham and his church in the town of Tibula.
Day 28 – Praise God for the large number of Muslims who are coming to Christ in southern Mindanao and around the world.
Day 29 – Pray for more open doors to take the Gospel into new tribal areas where people are still waiting to hear about the Creator God for the first time.
Day 30 – Pray for God’s Kingdom to come and God’s will to be done in your life, your family, your church, your community, throughout your nation, and around the world.